IF WE LOVE GOD,
WE WILL LOVE HIS CHILDREN

By A. W. Tozer

    The Apostle John makes love for our fellow
Christians to be a test of true faith. "My little children,
let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed
and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the
truth, and shall assure our hearts before him" (1 John
3:18, 19).  Again he says, "Beloved, let us love one
another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth
is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not
knoweth not God; for God is love" (1John 4:7, 8).

    As we grow in grace we grow in love toward all
God's people. "Every one that loveth him that begat
loveth him also that is begotten of him" (1 John 5:1).
This means simply that if we love God, we will love
His children.  All true Christian experience will deepen
our love for other Christians.

   Therefore we conclude that whatever tends to separate
us in person or in heart from our fellow Christians is not
of God, but is of the flesh or of the devil.

   And conversely, whatever causes us to love the children
of God is likely to be of God. "By this shall all men know
that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another"
(John 13:35).

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Yours in Christ,
Paul N. F.